Principles of religion

[Guest guest]

> Dear Harikesa Swami,

> Please accept my humble obeisances.

>

> I have heard that the ksatriyas in the Vedic times would sometimes

> under certain circumstances engage in gambling, meat-eating,

> intoxication, and sex with maidservants to whom they were not

> married. How could they then be upholders of the principles of

> religion if they themselves broke the 4 regs?

>

> Your servant,

> Bh. Karsten

 

They were protecting the brahmanas, the women, children, old men and

the cows, and were making sure that all kinds of spiritual principles

were being followed. And according to the principles of religion

which are applicable for ksatriyas, they were not breaking the rules

when they engaged in some sense gratification. The rules were

different for the different orders. Thus, because their rules were

different, they were not breaking the rules when they did those things

mentioned by you. For example, it is the rule that a ksatriya should

not neglect a woman who approaches him for procreating a son, whether

he is married to her or not. Usually the ksatriya would then maintain

the woman and the son afterwards. For a ksatriya to create children

is not a fault and he would always protect them properly. Even if a

King would create sons through a maidservant, he would protect her and

the sons as if they were his own wife and children. You see, the

vedic people were not crude sense gratifiers as the present people

are. If they did something they took responsibility for their actions

for the benefit of everyone.

 

Actually, the Vaisnava Kings did not engage in the activities

mentioned above. But even if they did, they would do it within the

principles of religion.